FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DECEMBER 16, 2005

Fred Sawyers
General Manager
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel
504-584-3810
fred_sawyers@hilton.com

Tourism Officials Assure a “Shiny Quarter” for Christmas

Project to clean French Quarter planned for Tuesday, December 20.

New Orleans, La. – Several hospitality industry partners, including the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB), the Greater New Orleans Hotel Lodging Association (GNOHLA) and the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) have joined forces to present Project Shiny Quarter—an effort to help clean up debris in the French Quarter.

On Tuesday, December 20, teams from various tourism-related organizations will meet at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas at 9 a.m. to receive cleaning assignments and supplies. The teams will work to beautify the Quarter until 2 p.m.

“This campaign will send an important message to the world that our hospitality and tourism industry is doing everything it can to reassert our beautiful city's place as a top destination, as well as a wonderful place for our residents,” said Fred Sawyers, General Manager of the New Orleans Hilton Riverside Hotel and chair of the Task Force. “We're all in this together, and we're all willing to roll up our sleeves.”

Refreshments will be provided by Coca-Cola and Red Bull, and many other organizations have made generous supply and cash donations. Each team of 10 workers will be given the following supplies, with recognition to the organization that donated the items:

· Gloves: Premier Source

· Brooms, shovels, trash bags, spray cleaner: Guillot

· Backpacks: Alltel

· Rags: Hilton New Orleans Riverside

· Trash carts: Waste Management

Waste Management will also provide roving trash trucks to empty the carts as teams work. A special thanks to the GNOHLA, LRA, Coca-Cola and Republic Beverage for generous cash donations.

About New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB)
Since 1960, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.neworleanscvb.com) has been the driving force behind New Orleans' most
important industry, attracting $4.9 billion to the region annually. Nationally recognized for superior customer service, NOMCVB represents over 1,200 members and provides convention services and visitor information for business travelers and vacationers. Last year, the NOMCVB welcomed a record-breaking 10.1 million visitors to one of America's favorite meeting and leisure destinations. The NOMCVB is committed to rebuilding the city of New Orleans.